RME rescuers keep watch near erupting Kamchatka volcano

The Plosky Tolbachik volcano grew active on November 27 after 36 years of dormancy

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PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, December 10 (Itar-Tass) — The Russian Ministry for Emergencies (RME) has made arrangements for a constant monitoring of the situation in the area of the road leading to the erupting Plosky (flat) Tolbachik volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula in view of an influx of tourists there, an official in the press service of the RME center for the Kamchatka Territory told Itar-Tass on Monday.

The RME official said, large groups of tourists who the enthusiasts extreme situations, flocked to the area of the volcano at the past weekend. There are more than 50 cars in the volcano area now.

The Plosky Tolbachik volcano grew active on November 27 after 36 years of dormancy, ever since the Great Fissure Eruption had occurred in 1975-1976. A crevice-type fracture, up to five kilometres long, with two active centers ejecting molten lava has now developed at Tolbachinsky Dolu, south of the Plosky Tolbachik, at an altitude of about 1.7 km above sea level. The lava torrents are currenlty 13 km long. The overall area of lava fields is about 12-13 square kilometres. Their edges constitute molten walls a temperature of up to 1,000 degrees, and up to five metres high.

The altitude of the Plosky Tolbachik is 3,085 metres above sea level. It is situated in the south-western sector of the Klyuchi (water-springs) group of volcanoes in Kamchatka's east , 343 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The eruption is under constant monitorig. Experts are refraining sofar from making forecasta about the duration of the eruption, which currently does not pose a hazard to populated areas.